Improvement in elevated railways



G. L. HDRACK.

EI evated-Bailway. Nb. 162,751. Patented May H1875.

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THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTO-LITH.39&41 PARK PLAGEJLY.

"UNITED STATES CARL L. HORAGK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELEVATED RAILWAYS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 162,751, dated May 4,1875; application filed April 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL L. HORAGK, of the city of Brooklyn, State ofNew York, have invented an Improvement on Elevated Railroads, of whichthe following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to so arrange in an economical way theposts, crossbeams, track-stringers, and ties on an elevated railroad, asto greatly reduce the danger to trains resulting from their accidentallyleaving the track, and to impart additional strength and stifiness tothe structure without increase of material.

The accompanying drawing shows the structure as invented by me.

Figure 1 is a ground plan of several spans; Fig.2, a side elevation ofthe same; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the structure. Fig. 4 is anelevation, and Fig. 5 a ground plan, of ties under the rails, and theirconnection with each other, both drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1,2, and 3.

The posts P P supporting the structure are placed in two rows, so thatthe posts on one side are opposite the spaces between the posts on theother side of the structure. Each post is connected with the two nearestopposite ones by cross-beams O O, and between the latter thetrack-stringers S S are securely fastened. Their tops are somewhat belowor nearly level with those of the crossbeams. The ties T T, supposed tobe of iron, are fastened in a suitable manner on top of thetrack-stringers. Their ends are bent upward, as shown in Fig. 4, andconnected with each other by a bar, B, securely fastened to them, asindicated in Figs. 4 and 5 Fastening the track-stringers between thecross-beams, as proposed by me, is preferable to laying them on top ofthe cross-beams in the usual manner, as, owing to the difi'erentlengthsof such track-stringers, they may vary in height, and this is theeasiest way of getting their tops level.

Comparing my elevated railroad with one constructed as usual withcross-beams at or near right angles to the line of the road, it isevident that, as the number of cross-beams is doubled, the averagelength of the trackstringers is reduced one-halt.

This circumstance, in combination with the peculiar construction of theties and their connection, materially lessens the danger attending thederailment of trains on elevated railroads.

If such an accident should take place, the Wheels on one side of thetrain would strike the bar B fastened to the ties T T, and by it beprevented from further motion sideward. The danger still remaining wouldbe the dropping down of the wheels on the other side between the ties,thereby breaking the ties and spreading the track. The laying ofstring-pieces along the rails on top of the ties, or placing the tiesclose together, might prevent this, but would contribute to darkeningthe street underneath.

The arrangement, and the increased number of the cross-beams, asproposed by me, Will have the consequence that in most such cases ofaccident, the car which has left the track will come to rest on one ofthe crossbeams U G, which, on an elevated railroad, constructed withposts opposite each other, could only be accomplished by placing thelatter very close together, thereby largely increasing the expense.

A further advantage of this structure is the increased rigidity andstifi'ness which it possesses;

The ends of every two adjoining crossvbeams being connected makes themact as lateral braces, which fact may do away entirely with thenecessity of providing additional lateral bracing.

Another and very important advantage of this structure is that,providing the distances between the posts on one side of the structureare not very much in excess of the lengths of the cross-beams, aconsiderable saving in the cost of the track-stringers may beaccomplished, and although the cost of the cross-girders is somewhatincreased, owing to their greater length, the total reduction in thecost of the structure will, as calculations have shown, under-certaincircumstances, amount to ten per cent.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in an elevated railroad, ofthe posts P P, cross-beams or their equivalent O O, and thetrack-stringers S S, when the arrangement is such that the posts'on oneside of the structure are placed opposite the spaces between the postson the other side, one cross-beam running from each post to each of thetwo nearest posts on the other side.

2. The combination described, when the arrangement is such that thetrack-stringers are fastened between the cross-beams, the tops of theformer remaining below or level with the tops of the latter.

CARL L. HORAOK. Witnesses: FRANCIS MLLLER,

WM. HENRY SMITH.

